He was fined £250 at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court in South Wales and Gwent Police think this is the first conviction under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

On 21 March, two undercover police officers from Gwent Police entered his scrap yard looking to sell metal. They were informed by David Eagle that he could not buy the metal as they did not have the required documentation.

However, after the officers claimed they were from Wolverhampton so could not bring the documentation, he paid them £9 for the metal in cash.

Gwent Police superintendent Glyn Fernquest told the South Wales Argus: “While the problem of metal theft has vastly reduced in Gwent, there are still those who engage in this dangerous and criminal practice.

“They are only able to operate if unscrupulous scrap dealers flout laws and pay cash without asking questions.”